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This power cannot be explained It was not passion Were Laura far ht speedily have broken the spell by which she unconsciously held her captive His e yet restful affection that he entertained for Mrs Arnot Was it love? Why should he love one ould not love in return, and who, both in the world's and his own estimation, was infinitely beyond his reach? However s, however ret the fact, his heart trembled at her presence, and, by soed its mistress He was compelled to admit to himself that he loved her already, and that his boyhood's passion had only changed as he had changed, and had beco sentiment of theco the peculiar charm which she had for him from the first But now he could not choose; he had , however, he could do, and that he resolved upon before he closed his eyes in sleep in the faint dawning of the following day He would not flutter as a poor moth where he could not be received as an accepted lover

This resolution he kept He did not cease calling upon Mrs Arnot, nor did the quiet ware; but his visits beca character of his studies, and the increasing preparation required to maintain his hold on hisin divining the true cause One of his unconscious glances at Laura revealed his heart to her woman's eye as plainly as could any spoken words But by no word or hint did Mrs Arnot reveal to hientler and her eyes kinder; that was all In her heart, however, she alth and patience to take up this heavy and hopeless burden, and go on in the path of duty without a word How different was his present course from his former passionate clamor for as then equally beyond his reach? She was almost provoked at her niece that she did not appreciate Haldane more But would she wish her peerless ward to marry this darkly shadowed man, to whom no parlor in Hillaton was open save her own? Even Mrs Arnot would shrink from this question

Laura, too, had perceived that which Haldane meant to hide fronize her worshippers? But there was nothing in Laura's nature which permitted her to exult over such a discovery She could not resent as presumption a love that was so unobtrusive, for it became more and more evident as time passed that the ive to her the slightest hint of its existence She was pleased that he was so sensible as to recognize the i along the brink, thusan annoyance to her Indeed, she sincerely respected hied hi, and went forith his duties so quietly and steadily, that she was inclined to believe that his feelings toward her were not very deep, or else that he was so constituted that affairs of the heart did not give him very much trouble